The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina responded to the article written by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour about Genetically modified foods on the Ministry of Agriculture Website in the news section – http://www.fmard.gov.ng/news_inside.php?nid=118. Below is Dr Adewumi Adesina’s reply concerning GMO.

I read this and was shocked at the level of total misrepresentation. There is nothing correct in all this write up. I normally don’t respond to these kind of things, but feel Gbadebo should be educated on facts. First, Nigeria does not have GMOs. Second, all the seeds used by farmers in Nigeria are from conventional breeding, and we allow farmers to reuse their own seeds. Third, we support biodiversity and promote both in-situ and ex-situ gene banks for ensuring local biodiversity is conserved. Fourth, we promote sensible and responsible use of modern technologies to address complex problems of diseases and pest, climate change and malnutrition.

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